RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD
WHAT IS RELIGION?
SOME DEFINITIONS
Facta encyclopedia:
"A universal phenomenon characterized by belief in the supernatural and related behavior and the experience of holiness. "
Otava's big encyclopedia:
“Man’s Practical Relationship to Superhuman Divine Power or to the powers which, in his view, are ultimately controlled his aims and destiny. "
EAHoebel:
"Religion is belief in the supernatural."
JBPratt:
“Religion is a serious social attitude of individuals and groups to the force or forces which they ultimately regard regulate their aspirations and destinies. "
Religion is a characteristic of the human species
People have always had a religion throughout their history. Man is wanted to commit to a being or force greater than itself and face this is a natural existence in his life. There is a connection to this commitment reciprocity. I serve you, you fulfill my hopes and needs. By committing to God / gods, man may also have known which is right and wrong, for the supernatural has expressed its will.Living in a human community is relieved when the community has had the same perceptions of right and wrong. This knowledge of right and wrong has been communicated by people orally and later in writing to the next generation. Holy books have been born.
Religion answers questions that always, about time and place Nevertheless, people have asked. How was the world born? Who am I? What have I been before I was born? What happens to me in death after? What is the purpose of my life? Why do I have adversity, suffering, which I have not caused myself? Still a man of the 21st century asks these questions and seek answers to them. We're talking fundamental questions and truth-seekers . Modern man is looking for answers from several religions. Getting to know foreign religions will also help you understand your own religion.
These pages tell you about the answers given by different religions.
The influence of religions in the world has brought about much good: Selfless activities for the benefit of others, the world's most impressive works of art, music, literature, architectural treasures.
When rulers have taken religion as a weapon, are people stretched out to each other in horrible deeds. So contradictory, but so sadly true: Religion is a very useful tool to incite hatred in different ways among believers.
It is important to know different religions,
for they tell things that people hold sacred.
Few things do as much evil as insulting things that another person considers sacred.
Religion is part of the human self.
The downside of the essence of religions is their aspiration to isolate and stand apart. However, in the modern world, attempts have also been made to move to interfaith dialogue.
NUMBER OF SUPPORTERS
Christianity: 2400 mln. (33%)
Islam: 1800 million (20%)
Hinduism: 950 million (14%)
Buddhism: 600 million (5%)
China's religions: 500 mln. (5%)
Natural religions: 300 million (1.5%)
Religious religions: 300 million
Shintoism: EUR 100 million (1.5%
Judaism: 14 million (o, 25%)
Other religions: 200 million
WAYS TO CLASSIFY RELIGIONS
A. Prevalence
1. Universal religions are worldwide such as Christianity and Islam
2. Ethnic religions are religions of which one is born a member. They are affiliated with a nation or tribe and give to their members as well as national that religious identity. For example, Judaism.
B. The Holy Books
1. Religious religions are religions that have their own holy book that contains the basic doctrines of religion and prescribes a pattern of proper behavior. Every major world religion has its own holy book.
2. Natural religions are religions that lack a holy book. They have been typical of tribal communities that have not had literacy skills. A typical example is the religion of the ancient Finns, where information was passed on as oral genetic information to the next generation.
C. Perception of God
1. Polytheistic religions are religions in which many gods occur. Gods may form families of gods. Such religions include many Far Eastern religions such as Hinduism.
2. Monotheistic religions are religions in which only one God is believed. All "heirs of Abraham," that is, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, are such religions.
3. Pantheistic religions are religions where deity is thought to be all over the world, such as Shintoism.
4. Atheistic religions do not recognize the existence of any god. Original Buddhism for example.
C. Jumalakäsitys
1. Polyteistiset uskonnot ovat uskontoja, joissa esiintyy monia jumalia. Jumalat saattavat muodostaa jumalperheitä. Tällaisia uskontoja ovat monet kaukoidän uskonnot kuten esim. Hindulaisuus.
2.Monoteistiset uskonnot ovat uskontoja, joissa uskotaan vain yhteen jumalaan. Kaikki "Abrahamin perilliset" eli juutalaisuus, kristinusko ja islam ovat tällaisia uskontoja.
3. Panteistiset uskonnot ovat uskontoja, joissa ajatellaan jumaluuden olevan kaikkialla maailmassa, esimerkiksi shintolaisuus.
4. Ateistiset uskonnot eivät tunnusta minkään jumalan olemassaoloa. Alkuperäinen buddhalaisuus esimerkiksi.